Harmon C. Canoy

Harmon Carroll Canoy passed away on May 28, 2012 at age 90 in Portland, Oregon. A memorial service will be held on June 10, 2012 at 2 pm at Pioneer United Methodist Church at 7528 N. Charleston Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Harmon was born on December 23, 1921 in Lebanon, Oregon to Wade J. and Ethel (Lindley) Canoy. He was the youngest of two children, the eldest being his sister Bonnie Joyce.

At age two his parents decided to move to Portland. The family settled in the community of St. Johns where Harmon attended grade school and later Roosevelt High School. Just before graduation he hopped a train with only a few items and headed south to California. Upon his arrival he got a job selling newspapers, then worked at a soda fountain and later a job at a neon sign company.

While in California, Harmon was drafted into the Army during World War II and stationed at Camp Adair in Oregon. During his service he stayed stateside due to his low weight and poor eyesight. Once the war ended, Harmon was honorably discharged as a Tec 5. Harmon then moved back to Portland and returned to Roosevelt High to complete credits required for his diploma.

Harmon had attended Pioneer United Methodist Church since a child and was active in the Young Adult’s class. This is where he met his future bride, Phyllis Boyd. A friend invited Phyllis to attend a youth meeting and she agreed to only go once. She met Harmon there and became a regular member. They were married on April 15, 1950 at Pioneer United Methodist Church.

As a couple, they shared a fondness of movies such as westerns, romantic comedies, musicals, and science fiction. Harmon was especially fond of all John Wayne and James Bond films. They were also extremely active in the young adult group at their church.

Harmon took a written test at the U. S. Post Office and between his high score and military time, he was hired. He started there as a mail sorter which at that time was all done by hand. After years of additional classes and training, he advanced to become a supervisor. He worked for the downtown Post Office for over 30 years and retired in April of 1980. He rarely took a day off for illness and had accumulated a year’s worth of sick leave when he retired.

Harmon was incredibly outgoing, talkative and made a friend out of anyone he met. He was involved with several civic activities throughout his life. Harmon was the chaplain for the American Legion Post #1 for 24 years and a member of their Honor Guard. He was also a member of 40 & 8 Veterans’ organization. For many years he was a volunteer Treasurer and driver for Meals on Wheels delivering meals to seniors in the St. Johns area.

Activities he enjoyed included bowling as he belonged to 3 different leagues: Christian Church Bowling League, a senior bowling league and a postal bowling league. He was active in the Pioneer United Methodist Men’s Club and sang for many years in the church choir until a stroke paralyzed one of his vocal chords. Harmon was an avid reader, often reading National Geographic, westerns, science fiction, and the newspaper. As the family would say, “No one touched the Sunday newspaper until Daddy was done with it.” He kept his mind fresh doing crosswords, playing solitaire, chess, and cribbage. Harmon also enjoyed camping, fishing, and hunting for elk and deer. Every spring he took pleasure in planting a garden and helping with canning the bounty. He used to grow a large number of tomato plants from seeds to share with his family, friends, and strangers.

If there is one thing his family would like him to be remembered for, it would be his ability to make friends with whomever he met, wherever he went. Harmon couldn’t go anywhere, even on vacation, without meeting someone he knew from Portland.

Harmon is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 62 years, Phyllis J. Canoy; children, Christopher C. Canoy, Merrilea A. Manning, Karen K. Norene, Bryan P. Canoy, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren with two more due this year, two nephews, and one niece. Arrangements entrusted to Skyline Memorial Gardens of Portland, Oregon.